INSIDE THIS


WEEK Contents


NEWS Hot Stories


BA boss defends damning consumer poll; Tunisia tipped for surge in UK visitors; ‘Ignorance’ to cost Caribbean millions in marketing spend after hurricanes; Logitravel acquires Magic Rooms; Dnata launches bed bank Yalago


Round-up Longman: ‘Brits to budget’; Vivid Travel


WIN!


Find out What’s Hot in the USA to win Amazon Echo speaker page 34


08 Barrhead training; Reuben’s fundraising 10


Special Reports SPAA Annual Travel Awards, Glasgow 12 Abta seminar: Apprenticeships in Travel 14


Talk Back Tui advert; Atas market; solos; Uluru


NEWS YOU CAN USE Product NCL, Disneyland Paris, Flybe


17 04 19


Cruise Carnival UK, Royal, NCL, Silversea 20 Operator Best Served Scandinavian,


22 Newmarket, Travel 2, Contiki, Shearings


FRONTLINE Comment Sharon Munro, Barrhead


Readers’ Lives Charlotte Garland


A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR Rebuilding reputation is key F


or years British Airways was the gold standard among airlines, associated with quality and service.


So news this week that a major consumer survey has


found its brand values have plummeted should serve as a stark wake-up call for the flag-carrier (page 4). My last flight with BA was less than impressive. They


ran out of most of their food after serving the first few rows, duty-free items weren’t available and one of the cupboard doors in the toilet was hanging off. Hats off to the stewardess who kept her cool while faced with a barrage of unhappy passengers. The airline has gone from one crisis to another: an IT


meltdown that left thousands stranded, continual cabin crew strikes and a backlash against its £8 GDS fee (back page). This week BA chief Alex Cruz claimed the carrier was still


25 28


Caught on Camera Pictures from frontline 32 Mystery Shopper Maidstone & Hempstead 38


DESTINATIONS


All-Inclusive Resort Reviews: BH Mallorca; Hard Rock Hotel, Mexico; White Palace Resort, Crete 40


FRONT COVER Cover Star Charlotte Garland of Travel Republic page 28 PHOTO: STEVE HOCKSTEIN


Latin America Belize: Beaches, adventure and history 52


BUSINESS Round-up Travelport, Air France-KLM


WHAT


LUCY DID THISWEEK


Nov 9 62 GTMC Conference BA on NDC strategy 64 1


2 3


a premium brand, but acknowledged it must raise its game if it is to stay competitive. The survey serves as a timely reminder that no brand is immune from public opinion. Many of the destinations exhibiting at World Travel Market this week face this challenge. For Tunisia, Egypt and the Caribbean, it is a case of rebuilding their reputations to regain their tourism status among UK holidaymakers (page 5). For years, Sharm el-Sheikh had a reputation as a winter- sun destination that did what it said on the tin, and I’m sure the industry will get behind it as soon as it is able to sell it. That’s already happening with Tunisia, which is starting to see light at the end of the tunnel. But getting holidaymakers back on side is not easy, as the Caribbean is discovering to its cost after hurricanes Irma and Maria. The trade must play its part in encouraging customers to consider the destination next year and dispel any myths that the region is not open for business.


Lucy Huxley Editor-in-chief @Lucy_Huxley


Listened to the Brexit views of former Belgian prime minister and MEP Guy Verhofstadt at the WTM ‘Captains of Industry’ lunch.


Joined Funway, Do Something Different, Ocean Holidays and Universal Parks & Resorts for Visit Florida’s WTM dinner at Banqueting House.


Shed a few tears with my kids as we had to bury their pet guinea pig in the garden and erect a plaque in memory of Sugar, aka Piggy.


9 November 2017 travelweekly.co.uk 3


WHAT’S


HOT IN THE


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